VETERAN actor James Garner will step into a recurring role on “8 Simple Rules” when the show returns following the death of star John Ritter.

Garner, who starred last year in CBS’ “First Monday,” will play the father of Cate Hennessy (Katey Sagal), who will be grieving the death of husband Paul (Ritter) when “8 Simple Rules” returns in November with its first new episodes since Ritter’s death.

It’s not yet known how the show will handle the circumstances surrounding Paul’s death.

Garner’s character, who will be introduced after Paul’s funeral, “will help his daughter and grandchildren through the good and bad times as the family deals with the death of patriarch Paul Hennessy,” ABC said in a statement.

Garner’s character will be recently separated from his wife, who hasn’t yet been cast, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

On the show, there are three Hennessy kids: Bridget (Kaley Cuoco), Kerry (Amy Davidson) and Rory (Martin Spanjers).

Production on “8 Simple Rules” starts up again Monday. It returns early next month with a special one-hour episode and it’s believed Garner will appear in four consecutive episodes.

Ritter, 54, died suddenly Sept. 11 from an undetected heart ailment. The former “Three’s Company” star was considered the main cog in “8 Simple Rules,” which is now in its second season and has been a moderate success for ABC’s struggling prime-time schedule.

After Ritter’s death, ABC decided to air the three new episodes he completed before he died.